Pivoted player-tiltable games table

ABSTRACT

This invention comprises a games apparatus on which a game involving strength, skill and agility is playable by two or more opposing players who, in playing the game, must struggle against one another as they attempt to score points by directing a playing piece on a playing field into a designated scoring zone or zones. The apparatus comprises a playing field, on which a playing piece is movable, incorporating one or more scoring zones per player, together with one or more handles per player extending outwardly of the playing field manipulable to cause the playing field to be tilted from the horizontal, characterized in that the playing field is tiltably mounted on a pedestal, which pedestal is adapted to be fixedly mounted to a base at least during use of the games apparatus, the base being configured and arranged to, in play, carry substantially the entire weight of the players and to enable all the players to each exert up to their full strength in attempting to achieve tilting of the playing field without there being substantial risk of altering the relative orientation of the pedestal and the base.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a games apparatus having a playing surface onwhich a playing piece is movable and, more particularly, to a gamesapparatus on which opposing players or teams can pit their strength,skill and agility against one another to effect tilting of the playingsurface, and thus movement of the playing piece.

BACKGROUND ART

Various forms of games apparatus have already been proposed having aplaying surface tiltable by the players to cause a playing piece to movethereon.

British Patent Specification 322127, for example, discloses a gamesapparatus in which a playing surface supported entirely by the playersis competitively tilted to cause a ball or a sliding object to move overthe playing surface. The games apparatus is forked at opposite ends toform handles with which the players support the playing surface. Theplaying surface is rectangular, circular or some other shape, and isprovided with apertures through which the ball may pass into pockets.

By way of further example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,617,061 details a gamesapparatus for competitive play by two or more participants comprising aplatform having an upper playing surface. The playing surface has acentral discharge opening and supports one or more mobile playing piecessuch as marbles for movement over the playing surface. The platform isconnected at its edge to two or more handle means which are spaced apartaround the platform and are intended to be firmly grasped by players whostruggle or wrestle against one another to attempt to manipulate theplatform to cause or prevent the marble from falling into the opening.

The device also includes means connected to the underside of theplatform below the opening to receive discharged marbles, and adapted tosupport the platform in a position elevated above a support surface suchas a table while affording ready manipulation of the platform.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,972 discusses another alternative design of gamesapparatus. The apparatus includes an open top housing assembly with auniversally tiltable open top insert assembly mounted therein. Uprightguides within the housing assembly guide vertically adjustable lifterswith handles which project laterally outward through slots in the endwalls of the housing assembly. Said lifters supportably engage theundersurface of the insert assembly. Selective vertical manual movementsof one or more lifters are adapted to variably adjust the insertassembly to any resultant angle relative to a horizontal planethroughout 360° selectively. Game board indicia is provided upon theinsert assembly bottom wall to receive a series of variably spacedtargets or obstacles. A ball initially disposed on the indicia ismovable thereover relative to the insert assembly walls in variousdirections depending upon the resultant tilt of the insert assembly soas to strike or not strike said targets or obstacles.

It has been noted that teenagers and young adults have large amounts ofwhat could be described as "excess" energy. They also enjoy games andcontests which involve strength, skill and agility None of the prior artprovide a games apparatus for satisfactorily harnessing that excessenergy in a controlled way in a games apparatus of the kind identified.

In particular, in all of the games apparatus considered above, if oneplayer, or team attempts to direct the playing piece to move towards theopposing player orteams by applying a lifting force to their end it isvery easy for the opposing playing or team to counter that maneouversimply by lifting their own end also.

The games apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,617,061 perhaps comesclosest to meeting this goal, in that should a player or team attempt totilt the playing surface to one side or the other, or to tilt theplaying surface downwards at their side that movement can be opposed bythe other player or team applying a force in direct opposition. Thus,the contest as to which way the playing surface will tilt becomes one ofstrength. However, as noted above, should a player or team wish to tiltthe playing surface towards the opposing player or team that movementcan be countered by applying a similar force, resulting in the playingsurface remaining level but being lifted off the ground. Moreover,sudden movements produced by rapid changes in force application arelikely to de-stabilise the apparatus and disrupt the game.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a games apparatus inwhich all movements of the playing surface caused by one player or teamcan be directly opposed by the opposing team or player through theapplication of a force in the same direction, the resultant tilting ofthe playing surface being determined by a contest of strength betweenthe players or teams.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a broad aspect of this invention there is provided games apparatus onwhich a game involving strength, skill and agility is playable by two ormore opposing players or teams who, in playing the game, must struggleagainst one another as they attempt to score points by directing aplaying piece on a playing field into a designated scoring zone orzones, the apparatus comprising:

a said playing field, on which a said playing piece is movable,incorporating one or more said scoring zones per player or team;

together with one or more handles per player or team extending outwardlyof the playing field manipulable to cause the playing field to be tiltedfrom the horizontal;

characterised in that the playing field is tiltably mounted on apedestal, which pedestal is adapted to be fixedly mounted to a base atleast during use of the games apparatus, the base being configured andarranged to, in play, carry substantially the entire weight of theplayers or teams and to enable all the players to each exert up to theirfull strength in attempting to achieve tilting of the playing fieldwithout there being substantial risk of altering the relativeorientation of the pedestal and the base.

Preferably the playing field is mounted to the pedestal via a ball andsocket joint. Alternatively, mounting may be by way of a resilientspring connection, such as a spring steel or rubber member.

Desirably the games apparatus includes a restoring means to return thedisposition of the playing field to a horizontal plane when no tiltingforce is being applied by the players.

Advantageously the games apparatus includes limiting means to limit theangle of tilt of the playing field relative to the pedestal to a presetmaximum. Optionally the limiting means can also limit rotation of theplaying field about the pedestal to a preset maximum.

Preferably the base comprises a platform adapted to be supported on asupport surface, such as the ground or a floor.

Alternatively the base can be the ground or floor itself, with the lowerend of the pedestal fixed mounted therein, either permanently byconcrete, welding or the like, or semi-permanently by, for example,bolts. This kind of arrangement is particularly suited to gamesapparatus sited in shopping malls, arcades, etc.

Desirably the playing field is square or rectangular, however, any shapemay be used. Preferably where there are intended to be more than twoplayers or teams the players are equispaced around the playing field.

Advantageously the handles can extend circumferentially around theplaying field and can be gripped at substantially any point.

Preferably the scoring zones of each player are located substantiallyopposite that player across the playing field. However, the socringzones can be located at any position which encourages competitive play.Conveniently each player may have one scoring zone which can only beapproached by negotiating one or more obstacles.

Desirably each scoring zone is defined by an aperture in the playingfield. A pocket can be formed below the aperture, or optionally, theapertures may feed to playing piece collection tubes to facilitatecontrolled discharge of playing pieces for subsequent play.

Preferably the playing piece comprises a ball or puck.

Advantageously the games apparatus incorporates a mechanical, electricor electronic coin-freed playing piece release mechanism to release aplaying piece for play.

Preferably the coin-freed mechanism releases the playing piece directlyto the playing field.

Desirably the playing field is enclosed by a laminated glass or clearplastics cover.

Conveniently, activation of the coin-free mechanism causes the aperturesdefining the scoring zones to be closed off for a predetermined periodto enable players to familiarise themselves with the games apparatus andeach other as opponents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described,by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a games apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevation of the games apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates an end elevation of the games apparatus of FIG. 1;and,

FIG. 4 illustrates a partial side elevation cross section of the gamesapparatus of FIG. 1.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As shown in the drawings, the invention provides a games apparatus, asgenerally indicated at 1, comprising a playing field 2 mounted on apedestal 3 which in turn is mounted on a base platform 4.

The playing field 2 is substantially rectangular in shape, havingupstanding sides 5, upstanding ends 6, and a clear plastics cover 7.Located centrally at both ends of the playing field 2 are scoring zones8. Each scoring zone 8 is defined by an aperture 9 which feeds into aseparate chute 10. The scoring zones 8 are each guarded by fences 11which ensure that to enter a scoring zone 8 the ball 12 (shown in FIG.4) must approach from particular directions only. Various otherobstacles 13 may also be in place on the playing field 2. Alternatively,the ball 12 could be admitted via a chute (not shown) extending from aside 5 which opens out into the playing field 2.

A central aperture 14, sized to permit passage of the ball 12, isprovided in the cover 7 to enable the ball 2 to be admitted to theplaying field 2.

Mounted outwardly of and circumscribing the playing 2 is a handle 15.

The playing field 2 is connected to the upper end 16 of the pedestal 3by way of a ball and socket type joint. In this regard, a rod end 17extends vertically upwardly from the upper end 16 of the pedestal 3. Theball 18 forming part of the rod end 17 has an aperture therethrough inwhich a pin 19 is received. The ends of the pin 19 are welded to a box20 which in turn is connected to the underside of the playing field 2.Outer walls 21 extend upwardly from the upper end 16 of the pedestal 3,surrounding the rod end 17 and part of the depending box 20. The walls21 are spaced outwardly of the box 20 to allow a degree of relativemovement to enable the playing field 2 to be tilted and twisted in thedirections X and Y shown in the figures, but between limits. Surroundingthe walls 21 and occupying the space between the underside of theplaying field 2 and upper end 16 of the pedestal 3 is a foam ring 22.The function of the foam ring 22 is to return the playing field 2 to thehorizontal once all forces applied by the players are removed. Finally,outwardly of the foam ring 22 depending from the underside of theplaying field 2 is a protective fabric skirt 23.

Housed within the pedestal 3, which is approximately one metre high, isa coin-freed mechanism 24 (partially shown in FIG. 2). A trap door 25 isalso provided to enable recovery of coins inserted into the coin-freedmechanism 24.

The coin-freed mechanism 24 activates two solenoids 26 one each of whichis mounted and housed beneath the playing field 2 adjacent a chute 10.Each solenoid 26 has a reciprocatable rod 27 which, in the extendedposition, projects into the chute 10 preventing the ball 12 fromdropping down. Once a correct coin is inserted into the coin-freedmechanism 24 the solenoid 26 is activated to withdraw the rod 27 andallow the ball 12 to drop. The chute 10 is L-shaped, having a lower endwhich forms a cup. The ball 12 drops down into the cup portion fromwhere it can be retrieved for insertion into the central aperture 14above the playing field 2, and play commenced.

The lower end 28 of the pedestal 3 is connected to the base platform 4,preferably by way of a bolted joint.

The base platform 4 is sized and shaped to allow the players to standthereon while the games apparatus 1 is in use. Because of the physicalnature of the game the upper surface of the base platform 4 ispreferably skid resistance.

Use of the games apparatus 1 will be described as a competition betweentwo opposing players, however, it is possible for two teams of two oreven three people to play against each other.

The ball 12 is first released by inserting a correct coin in thecoin-freed mechanism 24. Then the opposing players position themselvesat opposite ends of the playing field 12. They each take a firm grip ofa section of the handle 15 closest to them. A third person drops theball 12 in through the aperture 14 onto the playing field 2 to commenceplay.

With the ball 12 in play the players struggle and wrestle against eachother as they attempt to manipulate the playing field 2 to an anglewhich causes the ball 12 to roll in the direction they wish.

In this regard, each player trys to direct the ball 12 into the scoringzone 8 at the end of the playing field 2 opposite them and prevent theother player from doing likewise, in the process the ball 12 ismanouevred around the various obstacles 13 and through a path createdbetween the fences 11.

The game finishes when one of the players is successful in directing theball 12 into their particular scoring zone 8.

It will be appreciated that games played on the games apparatus 1 arevery physical, in that the opposing players are directing pitting theirstrength against each other. This makes for an exciting contest both forthe players and spectators.

It is envisaged that the games apparatus 1 could be used for fundraisingpurposes as, while heavy, it can be relatively easily transported fromplace to place in a station wagon or utility vehicle.

The possibility of competitions and television game shows revolvingaround the games apparatus 1 are contemplated, although for teamcompetition some modification may be required.

Further, the sides 5, ends 6 and playing field 2 itself may be utilisedto carry advertising messages or the like.

Additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art after considering the principles in particularform as discussed and illustrated.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that changes may be made to theabove described embodiment of the invention without departing from theprinciples taught herein.

Finally, it will be understood that this invention is not limited to theparticular embodiment described or illustrated, but is intended to coverall alterations, additions or modifications which are within the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A games apparatus on which a game involving strength, skilland agility is playable by two or more opposing players or teams who, inplaying the game, must struggle against one another as they attempt toscore points by directing a playing piece on a playing field into adesignated scoring zone or zones, the apparatus comprising:a saidplaying field, on which a said playing piece is movable, incorporatingone or more said scoring zones per player or team; together with one ormore handles per player or team extending outwardly of the playing fieldmanipulable to cause the playing field to be tilted from the horizontal;characterized in that the playing field is tiltably mounted on apedestal, which pedestal is adapted to be fixedly mounted to a base atleast during use of the games apparatus, the base being configured andarranged to, in play, support substantially the entire weight of theplayers or teams and to enable all the players to each exert up to theirfull strength in attempting to achieve tilting of the playing fieldwithout there being substantial risk of altering the relativeorientation of the pedestal and the base.
 2. Apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein the playing field is mounted to the pedestal via a balland socket joint or by way of a resilient spring connection. 3.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the games apparatus includes arestoring means to return the disposition of the playing field to ahorizontal plane when no tilting force is being applied by the players.4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the games apparatus includeslimiting means to limit the angle of tilt of the playing field relativeto the pedestal to a preset maximum.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4wherein the limiting means can limit rotation of the playing field aboutthe pedestal to a preset maximum.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1wherein the base comprises either a platform adapted to be supported ona support surface, or the ground or floor with the lower end of thepedestal fixedly mounted either permanently or semi-permanently. in thesaid ground or floor.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein thescoring zones of each player or team are located substantially oppositethat player or team across the playing field.
 8. Apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein the playing field is square or rectangular.
 9. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 such that where there are intended to be more thantwo players, or teams, the handle, or handles, per player, or team, areequispaced around the playing field.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 1wherein the handles extend circumferentially around the playing fieldand can be gripped at substantially any point.
 11. Apparatus accordingto claim 1 wherein the scoring zones of each player or team are locatedsubstantially opposite that player or team across the playing field. 12.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each player or team has a scoringzone which can only be approached by negotiating one or more obstacles.13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each scoring zone is definedby an aperture in the playing field.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 1wherein each scoring zone is defined by an aperture in the playingfield.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the apertures feed toplaying piece collection tubes to facilitate controlled discharge ofplaying pieces for subsequent play.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 15.wherein the games apparatus incorporates a mechanical, electric orelectronic coin-freed playing piece release mechanism to release aplaying piece for play.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein thecoin-freed mechanism releases the playing piece directly to the playingfield.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein activation of thecoin-freed mechanism causes the apertures defining the scoring zones tobe closed off for a predetermined period to enable players tofamiliarise themselves with the games apparatus and each other asopponents.
 19. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the playing piececomprises a ball or puck.
 20. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein theplaying field is enclosed by laminated glass or clear plastics cover.